§ 12. Mr. Peartasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will give details of the number of British scientists 1170 and technologists who have left the United Kingdom during the past five years.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThere are no complete statistics of British scientists and technologists who have left the United Kingdom during the past five years. Such estimates as are available indicate that about 2,000 leave, and about 1,000 enter, the country every year.
§ Mr. PeartWill the hon. Gentleman consult or ask his noble Friend to consult the Minister of Labour on this matter, as I am sure that the statistics can be given if the attempt is made? Even on the hon. Gentleman's own figure, is not this drift rather serious?
§ Mr. FreethWith regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I think that one can get fully accurate statistics only from passenger-movement statistics—by collecting a lot of detailed information from a very large number of travellers, which might lead to objections from other quarters. The net loss of 1,000 to which the hon. Gentleman refers relates to an annual output of about 18,000, and part of the net loss consists of Commonwealth students returning home after taking higher degrees.